Improved method of turning bridges



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM N. BERKELEY, OF OEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

IMPROVED METHOD OF TURNING BRIDGES.

Specification formingpart of Letters Patent No. 55,231, dated June 5, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM N. BERKELEY, ot Cedar Rapids, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in rIurning Bridges; and I do hereby declare and make known that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ot the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and the letters and tigures marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

My said invention relates to that class of bridges for crossing rivers which are so arranged upon a central pier that they may be revolved so as to lic parallel with the stream, forming openings upon each side for vessels f to pass through when desired; and it consists in a novel apparatus or arrangement whereby the said bridges are revolved or turned as aforesaid.

To enable those skilled in the art to understand how to construct and use my invention, I will proceed' to describe its construction and operation with particularity, making ref'erence in so doing to the aforesaid drawings, in which- Figure l represents a plan or top View of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side View or elevation thereof, and Fig. 3 a central vert-ical sectionofthe same.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures denote the same parts ot' my invention.

A represents the pier upon which the revolvin g pedestal B rests, supporting the bridge (l. The said pedestal stands upon a series of balls or conical rollers, (marked 6,) so as-to facilitate the revolutions of the bridge as dey sired.

Upon the top of the said pier, and at a suitable distance from the pedestal B, is arranged a circular' track, D, having its outer face V- shaped and its inner face plain, as shown.

Attached to the revolving pedestal B is a horizontal arm, E, which contains the bearings for the vertical shafts F G, which are provided with the cog-wheels J above said bearings and with the friction-wheels H I below said bearings, as shown. The shaft F stands up through the bridge, and constitutes the means whereby the power is applied to turn the bridge.

It will be observed that the faces of the said l a suitable support, L, which is attached to the pedestal B, one end thereof being connected with the shaft G in any suitablefmanner.

N represents another lever, fulcrumed at n in the support L, resting against the shaft F, and beingv connected with the lever M by the bar O, so that by drawing upon the cord P, which passes beneath a sheave, Q, and thence up to any point desired, the amount of friction between the rollers H I and the bearing D may be increased as may be desired.-

The invention herein described may beusud for turn-tables also, or for any other analogous purpose.

Having described the construction and operation of my invention, I will proceed to specify what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In combination with the revolving pedestal, B, the employment of the circular stationary bearing D, the shafts F Gr, and friction-wheels H I, arranged and operating substantially as and for the purposes specified.

, 2. In combination with the above, the arrangement ofthe levers M N and connectingbar O, as and for the purposes set fort-h.

WM. N. BERKELEY.

Witnesses:

L. L. GONE, J As. L. BUER. i 

